Can opener



Jan. 18, 1949. v o. c. WILLIAMSON 2,459,560

' CAN OPENER Filed Jan. so, 1946 Fig4 JIyVgNTbR. Oscar C. Williamson BY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,459,560

CAN OPENER.

Oscar C. Williamson, San Francisco, Calif. Application January so, 1946, Serial No. 644,298

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in can openers.

The principal object of this invention is to produce a can opener which will effectively open a can in such a manner as to form a pouring spout that will not permit the contents to drip from the can at the time of being poured therefrom.

A further object is to produce a can opener which is economical to manufacture.

A still further object is to produce a device which is simple to use and one wherein it is impossible for a user to be injured thereby.

A further object is to produce a device which may be readily cleaned and kept in. a sanitary condition; also one which will open a can in such a manner that no sharp edges remain to injure the user.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanyin drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a can showing my can opener in use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a can which has been opened with my can opener.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the opening of canned milk and the like it is customary to use an ice pick or some other puncturing element for the Pu pose of making two holes in the top of the can, one for the purpose of pouring and the other for the inlet of air. so that the contents may readily leave the can.

The use of an ice pick is exceedingly dangerous and many people have been seriously injured due to the slipping of the instrument; also, the use of an ice pick is unsanitary inasmuch as it is ordinarily used for other purposes and not properly cleaned.

With my invention I provide a can opener wherein the opener is easy to use and also provides a pouring spout by forming the top in such a way that the contents may be readily poured from the can.

Furthermore, I provide means for forming the metal around the spout in such a manner that dripping cannot occur.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a bar, having a foot portion 6 which is adapted to pass beneath the can while the same is being opened.

To the top of the bar is hinged a second bar I which forms an operating handle, the hinge being shown at 8.

The bar 5 carries a formin die 9, the configuration of which is best shown in Fig. 3. This die abuts the top portion of the side of the can very close to the top edge thereof.

The handle I has a forming cutter H secured thereto and angularly disposed. (See Fig. 1.) This cutter is V-shaped. (See Fig. 3.)

The result of this construction is that when the parts are in the full line position of Fig. 1 and the handle raised to the dotted line position the die 9 will abut the top of the can, and by lowering the handle I from the dotted line position to the full line position, the nose A of the cutter will first engage the can top.

Inasmuch as the cutter is angularly disposed the sharp point will serve to cut through the metal of the can and force the metal downward and at the same time this downwardly and outward pressure will force the metal toward the die 9. Thus, a pinching and forming action will take place, forcing the ends of the die into the can and producing a V-shaped pouring spout, as shown at B in Fig. 2.

It will be noted by viewing Fig. 4 that the point of the V is in the same plane as the vertical side of the can and there is no tendency, therefore, toward dripping inasmuch as there is absolutely no overhang.

It will thus be seen that my can opener will perform all of the objects above set forth.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a can opener, a pair of pivoted members,

one of said members being positioned parallel to the side of the can to be opened and having" a foot portion underlying the can, the other of said members overlying the can and having an angularly disposed forming. cutter secured thereto. one face of said cutter being V-sliaped, said first mentioned member having a forming die positioned adjacent the top of the can whereby the metal of the can engaged by said V-shaped face of said cutter will be forced into engagement with said forming die to form a spout, the apex of said spout lying within the same plane as the side of the can.

Q QA C- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

